Chapter 8

"Today is an important day for Yuzhou. As the city lord of Yuzhou, I first welcome the representatives from all the major sects and academies on behalf of the people of Yuzhou..." A middle-aged man walked onto the martial arts platform, bowed to the row of representatives behind him, and said. He was Murong Gang, the city lord of Yuzhou and the host of this selection conference.

Seeing the city lord's bow, the representatives from the sects only nodded slightly.

However, the people of Yuzhou were in an uproar. They were all figures from major sects? These people usually held themselves aloft, and it was very difficult for ordinary people to see them.

The Great Han Empire had ten major sword sects: Houtu, Haoyue, Tianhai, Xuantian, Wangqing... Each sword sect possessed an extremely vast influence and a deep foundation.

Today, Yuzhou City was recruiting disciples, and it was unknown how many people from the ten major sword sects had come. Not all sects and academies would be present at a recruitment in a state.

"Do you see that? That young man is from the Xuantian Sword Sect. His clothes are embroidered with a curved ancient sword..." Looking at these high-ranking figures, someone in the crowd immediately whispered.

"Which sect is that cold-faced woman from?"

"She is from the Wangqing Sword Sect..."

"How do you know so clearly?"

"Are you stupid? You can tell from their attire. Disciples of the sects have their own unique attire. For example, the unique emblem of the Xuantian Sword Sect is a curved ancient sword, while the Wangqing Sword Sect has a cold snow sword, and the Tianhai Sword Sect has a small sword pattern on the sleeve..." This person spoke incessantly, showing off his extensive knowledge.

"Then who are those people without sword patterns on their clothes?"

"They are the people from the seven major academies: the Confucian Academy, the Taoist Academy, the Military Academy, the Mohist Academy... and the Medical Academy. However, looking at the number of people, not many academies have come to recruit disciples today."

The seven major academies... They were even more mysterious. For example, the Confucian Academy, the first sage was Confucius, the second sage was Mencius, and the current fourth sage is Dong Zhongshu... Dong Zhongshu is skilled in divination and is also the current imperial master.

The Confucian Academy is like this, and the other academies are no less impressive, all filled with powerful figures.

Although many sects had come to recruit disciples, it did not mean that many would be selected. Adhering to the principle of quality over quantity, each sect only recruited geniuses. In many states of the empire, they might only recruit one or two, or even none. The same applied to the seven major academies.

"Lord Murong, let's skip the formalities and start the aptitude test directly," a powerful figure from the Haoyue Sword Sect said coolly.

"As you wish," Murong Gang nodded in response.

"The aptitude test is about to begin. Those who are sixteen years old or younger can participate. I hope you can bring glory to Yuzhou City and be selected by these major sects..." Murong Gang said.

"Boom, boom, boom..." Suddenly, the ground began to tremble as if a thousand horses were galloping. The sound grew louder, shaking people's hearts. The crowd turned to see a squadron of crimson iron cavalry galloping towards them. Like a fierce wind, they arrived at the martial arts field in an instant.

At the head was a young general wearing a mask, riding a crimson blood-sweating horse. His eyes were incredibly sharp, and no one dared to meet his gaze. He slowly removed his mask, revealing a young and handsome face. He looked to be in his early twenties, leading a squadron of iron cavalry, making him look even more spirited.

"I am Murong Gang, the city lord of Yuzhou, and I welcome Lord Changping!" Seeing this person, Murong Gang immediately came down to greet him.

"Lord, there is no need for such formalities. I am here today to recruit disciples on behalf of the Military Academy. Everything will proceed according to the original rules, and my arrival should not change anything," the young general said.

Crimson Iron Cavalry? Lord Changping? Military Academy? The Military Academy was powerful, having produced several famous young generals for the empire, who were feared by the barbarian tribes.

"Can the test begin now?" Lord Changping asked coolly.

"It can begin now."

After Murong Gang spoke, he turned to the crowd: "Alright, those who want to participate in the assessment, come up. Those below the fifth level of the Qi Ling realm should not come up, to avoid wasting everyone's time and disgracing Yuzhou City in front of the powerful figures from the major sects..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of young men and women flew onto the platform. Among them were:

- Gu Mingyang, the direct son of the Gu family, sixteen years old, at the peak of the sixth level of the Qi Ling realm, with a good chance of being selected.

- Chen Fei from the Chen family, sixteen years old, at the peak of the sixth level of the Qi Ling realm, a recognized genius.

- Murong Yue, the daughter of the city lord, at the seventh level of the Qi Ling realm, one of the three beauties of Yuzhou City, just like Lin Yuechu.

Each of them was a young talent, shining brightly.

Most people's attention was focused on Murong Yue and Lin Yuechu. They were both geniuses and beauties. Their strength was at the peak of the seventh level. However, Lin Yuechu came from a small family and had no cultivation resources, relying entirely on her own talent.

At this moment, Li Changsheng also slowly walked out of the crowd and calmly ascended the platform. The other young men had all flown up to show off their strength, but he walked up the steps. When everyone saw his face, they were stunned.

Li Changsheng? The first-level Qi Ling realm waste from the Li family, actually dared to come up?

Wasn't he the one who proposed to Lin Yuechu a few days ago and couldn't even take three strikes? The city lord said that only those above the fifth level of the Qi Ling realm could come up. Did he not understand the rules? Everyone looked at him with strange eyes.

Seeing Li Changsheng on the platform, Li Zhan was also quite surprised and wanted to stop him, but it was too late. The people from other families smiled, as if they could already see the Li family disgracing themselves again. With a cultivation level below the fifth level of the Qi Ling realm, he would likely be directly driven off the platform.

"Li Changsheng, this is not a place for you. Go down," Lin Yuechu said coldly, her pale face showing no emotion. Li Changsheng had once proposed to her, and his low cultivation level here made her feel it would lower her status.

"You think too highly of yourself. Do you think you are the city lord, who can decide who stays and who goes?" Li Changsheng said coolly.

"Hmph! A waste below the fifth level, we'll see how you get off the platform!" Lin Yuechu said coldly.

"How I get off the platform is none of your concern!" Li Changsheng said coldly.

"Quiet! Recruiting disciples is a serious matter. Everyone, do not make noise!" City Lord Murong Gang stepped forward to maintain order and said loudly, "Now everyone line up, and the test will begin."

City Lord Murong Gang had heard before that Li Changsheng's cultivation level was only the first level of the Qi Ling realm, but he chose to ignore it. If Li Changsheng failed the test, it would be the Li family's disgrace. The Li family was a major family in Yuzhou, controlling many important businesses. If he could use this to suppress the Li family's reputation, he would be happy to see it.

(Thank you to reader Lei Xiaobai for the support)

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